Bafana Bafana of South Africa emerged victorious against Guinea with a scoreline of 2-1 in a thrilling TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) group C match played at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala Uganda
The match showcased intense action and a display of skill from both teams, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
The game kicked off with Guinea making early attempts to establish control. Ismael Camara had a chance but missed high over the bar in the 6th minute.
South Africa responded swiftly, and in the 10th minute, striker Neo Maema capitalised on a well-timed assist from Thabiso Kutumela, firing a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner to put South Africa ahead.
Guinea continued to press for an equaliser and came close on several occasions, with Mohamed Bangoura I and Ismael Camara both seeing attempts go off target.
However, the breakthrough for Guinea came in the 37th minute when Moussa Camara levelled the score with a composed finish from the centre of the box, assisted by Mohamed Bangoura.
As the first half concluded, the match was finely poised at 1-1, with both teams looking to assert themselves.
Second Half
The second half commenced with South Africa looking to regain the lead. Their efforts bore fruit in the 54th minute when Thabiso Kutumela struck a powerful right-footed shot from inside the box into the bottom right corner, restoring South Africa’s advantage at 2-1.
Guinea pushed hard to find another equaliser, with several shots from distance, including attempts from Mohamed Youla and Ismael Camara, but they couldn’t find the back of the net as South Africa’s defence held strong.
As the match progressed, both teams made multiple substitutions to inject fresh energy. South Africa’s tactical changes seemed effective, while Guinea continued to press but struggled to convert their chances, with notable misses from Yakhouba Barry and Mohamed Bangoura II.
Despite the late efforts from Guinea, including a header from Cheick Camara that went wide in stoppage time, South Africa maintained their lead. The match concluded with a score of 2-1, securing an important victory for South Africa.
South Africa’s victory was a testament to their resilience and attacking prowess. They will undoubtedly look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches, while Guinea will be eager to fine-tune their finishing to convert chances into points.
The match was a thrilling spectacle, highlighting the competitive nature of international football.
